Be alert but not alarmed about snakes, experts say

QUEENSLAND’S snake handlers are warning of more snakes out and about this month. What can you do to stay safe?

YOU’D be forgiven for getting a bit panicky about snakes right about now.

Snake handlers have reported seeing more snakes out and about this month, from the suburbs to the beach, and there have been at least three headline-making snake bite incidents this month, including the death of a man in northern Queensland last weekend.

Snake mating season started this month and it’s drawing the slithery reptiles out of hiding — raising our chances of encountering one.

Snakes have been spotted in odd locations — from women’s handbags to a fax machine, and even coiled in a baby’s cot.

Over the weekend, a snake claimed the life of a 62-year-old man who was bitten on the hand on his property north of Townsville.

The man’s wife and granddaughter gave him first aid after he was bitten by either an eastern brown snake or a taipan, but he was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

His death came as a Cairns woman was taken to hospital in a stable condition after she was bitten by an eastern brown snake in her car, just two weeks after a man was bitten by one on Surfers Paradise beach.

Eastern brown snakes, like these two, are among Australia’s most feared reptiles. Picture: Phil Rogers

Snake catchers across Queensland have reported receiving more calls about eastern brown snakes this month — Australia’s second-most venomous snake — after the much rarer inland taipan.

“They’re coming out, they’re looking to heat up, they’re looking for some mates to mate with,”

Ray Wallbank from Emergency Risk Management Queensland, which conducts venomous snake training, said.

“Snakes are everywhere, wherever we go, but you just need to be vigilant and be aware of what the animal is capable of.”

Mr Wallbank said the most common snakes to be found around homes were carpet and green tree snakes, along with eastern brown and red-bellied black snakes.

He said keeping yards clear of rubbish, keeping doors and windows shut and keeping small pets locked away were the best ways to avoiding a surprise snake in your yard — or worse, your house.

“If people leave rubbish around their yard, it’s creates the perfect place for these animals to hide,” he said.

“At the end of the day if we keep our yards clean, if we keep our boundaries clean, the animal won’t come into that property.

This relatively pleasant-looking snake happens to be an inland taipan (or fierce snake). Native to Australia, it’s the most toxic snake in the world — although no one has even been killed by one.

“You hear about snakes eating guinea pigs but at the end of the day it’s the owner’s responsibility to make sure their guinea pigs and cats are locked up and that they have a snake-proof enclosure.

“Snakes can end up anywhere. If they have a warm, nice, secure spot to hide, they’ll hide in there. And especially in houses — snakes end up in houses because people leave doors open or windows open, so make sure you close your windows and screens and doors and the animal won’t come in.”

But the most important thing, he said, was to leave snakes alone, and call an licenced snake handler if you found one.

“Snakes aren’t dangerous: its usually the people on the other end,” Mr Wallbank said.

“They have venom for two reasons: to kill their prey and to help digest their prey. They don’t have venom to kill us.

“If people leave the animal alone, there’s no need for the animal to bite. We do hear about snake bites, but it’s usually when people try to catch and kill the animal — that’s where about 95 per cent of bites comes from. If you look at these animals, they’re deaf and they’re nearly blind, and when someone intrudes on their area, they defend themselves and that’s what they’re doing.

A red-bellied black snake shedding its skin. Picture: Rob Ambrose from Sydney Snake Catchers

“This thing weighs 200g — if you were that small you’d look after yourself.

“They’re a misunderstood animal and when you look at them in the wild and the way their bodies work, they have internal organs like lungs and kidneys and thyroids and all that type of stuff, just like us. So they’re highly protective.”

Following the man’s death on the weekend, attending critical care paramedic Michael Granger said Queensland Ambulance Service staff were bracing for a spike in the number of snake bite-related calls as the weather warmed up.

He urged people to brush up on their snake safety knowledge.

“A lot of snake bites could be prevented and better education is needed on simple measures of what do to in case of snake bites,” he said.

“Snakes are more active during the hot summer months so when people are cleaning their yard or pick up rubbish, they should make sure they wear closed-in shoes and long pants as snakes could be hiding in the grass or large items.

“The other mistake people make is poor snake identification. People seem to think they know what kind of species they deal with.

“So in case someone is bitten, the best thing they can do is minimise exertion, place a compression on the wound and call triple-0.”